The success of the Loyola-Chicago men's basketball team in the NCAA Tournament has led the school to bring back a bobblehead of its team chaplain.
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, 98, had bobblehead nights in February 2011 and February 2015. Now, her bobblehead will be available for Ramblers fans for a third time.
"We're looking at doing another run very soon," Tom Sorboro, senior associate athletic director for external operations, told the Chicago Tribune. "At this point, everything Sister Jean-related is of tremendous interest. She essentially has become her own brand.
"When people hear about the bobbleheads the first question they ask is, 'Where can I buy one?' ... We're hoping to be able to answer that question with something other than 'Nowhere, right now,' very soon."
Sorboro didn't specify a timeline, the Tribune reported.
Meanwhile, Ramblers merchandise has seen a 500 percent spike in sales on Fanatics.com over the past week, outpacing the other 15 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, the company announced. Fanatics is one of the NCAA's licensed apparel and product retailers and operates on-site retail for nearly 50 pro and college partners.
After Loyola-Chicago upset Tennessee on a buzzer-beater in the second round last Saturday, Fanatics sold more gear in the next 48 hours than the previous two weeks combined, according to a spokesman.
A Ramblers-themed "Bracket Buster" T-shirt has been the top-selling item on the site, and a "Sweet Sixteen" shirt has been seeing gains in the past few days.
Loyola-Chicago, which defeated Nevada in the Sweet 16 on Thursday 69-68, takes on Kansas State in the Elite Eight today in Atlanta.
Detroit revival
The former home of the Detroit Tigers is getting new life.
A ribbon-cutting is scheduled today at The Corner Ballpark on the site of the former Tiger Stadium. A high school doubleheader will be played after the ceremony.
The facility also is headquarters for the nonprofit Detroit Police Athletic League, which serves more than 14,000 girls and boys. The 8,500-square-foot building is adjacent to the Willie Horton Field of Dreams, named after the former hometown fan favorite who helped the Tigers win the 1968 World Series.
More than $20 million was donated for the project.
"There continues to be a gap in resources to fund and activate youth sports programming, which is why PAL is so critical to Detroit's landscape," Tim Richey, Detroit PAL's chief executive, told The Associated Press. "We've seen these kids grow through our programs."
Tiger Stadium opened in 1912 as Navin Field. Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, George Kell (Swifton, Arkansas State University) and others played for the Tigers.
Horton spent 14 seasons with the Tigers. The team retired his No. 23, and a statue of his likeness stands at Comerica Park where the team moved after the 1999 season. The last portion of the old ballpark was demolished in 2009.
Detroit's PAL later was awarded the site. Construction on the new facility and field officially started in 2016.
SPORTS QUIZ
What Illinois university claims the state's only NCAA Division I men's basketball championship?
ANSWER
Loyola-Chicago in 1963
Sports on 03/24/2018